Bowling game apparatus



S P 1935. e. D. BARKER BOWLING GAME APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1953 Sept. 10, 1935. e. D. BARKER BOWLING GAME APPARATUS 3 5 Sheets-Sheet v 2 Filed April 27, 193

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BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Filed April- 27, 1955 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 G. Bar/n21".

Sept. 10, 1935. ca. D. BARKER 4 BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Filed April 27, 19:55 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 10, 1935. D BARKER 2,014,306

BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1935 5 Sheets Sheet 5 /7, 1 if /i #9 M M 6/ 0'6 g 62 gnw'ntob 6'. Bar/(er:

at the scene of play or others at a distance, even Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE Gulian Daahwood Barker, Springfield, Mass. Applicant April 27,1933, Serial Nil. 668,261-

15 Claims. (01. s s-4'1) A This invention relates to bowling game apparatus and generally aims'to provide a means which will advance or increase the popularity of bowling,-enabling the-players and others present within the confines of their homes, to learn oi visualize the progress of the game play by- 'play, the indicating means at the scene oil the play particularly being susceptible to broadcasting of its indications by television to owners of television receiving equipment.

The invention further enables the oi the result of aplay or. plays by remote control so as to eliminate the inconvenience of counting the standing pins from the rear end oi the alley, to employ novel means which will indicate the rolling of a strike, spareor ten-pin play, as well as the nuniber of balls rolled; to provide an accurate method-of checking the proper spotting or setting up of the pins.

It is also aimed to provide for the transmission of the various signals, that is, incidental to the rolling of balls, and the falling of pins, under control of photo-electric cell means.

struction wherein the conditioning of the electric circuit means is dependent upon a switch controlled by the seating oi the pin boy. I The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings: 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention as appliedv to a bowling alley.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the floor oi the alley at the .end upon which the pins are spotted.

' Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the devices upon which the pins are spotted.

FIgureSisaninvertedplanviewoi of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged diametric sectional view taken on the line Hot Figure 4.

Figure '1 is a'view'partly in elevation and partly in section showing a spotted pin.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of pin boy.

Figure 9 is an end elevation oi the seat oiFigure 8 is aside elevation of the indicating panel employed arme alley'. '1 p which balls are rolled Still another object is to provide a novel conelectric,

the device- 'rangement, are

the seattor the Figure 11 is a front elevation of the indicating portion of said panel.

Figure 12 is a diametric view showing the various electrical connections. Figure 13 is a view partly in section and partly 5 in 1n:levation on an enlarged scale, of one of the p Figure 14 is an end view of the pin of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a view of a modified form of pin, partly in section and partly in elevation, and 10 Figure 16 is anoend view oi the pin of Figure 15. 1 Y

Referring specifically to the drawings, the bowling alley is best shown in Figure 1 wherein m designates the floor, usually. of wood, along ,15

by the players from the foul line i I towards the pins 12, which are spotted in the usual or any preferred location thereon. At the sides of the floor I. are the usual gutters i3.

Suitably located at the players end of the 20 alley on an appropriate pedestal ll, Ior'instance, is an indicating panel I52 having ten signal lamps Ii thereon corresponding to the position of the ten-pins II. In addition, signal lamps are proindicate the rolling of a strike, spare, or ten-pin,

respectively.

The operation of the signal lamps ii to 22 is dependent upon apparatus to be presently more specifically set forth.

Along one side of the alley is a lamp, preferably equipped with a suitable reflector, so as v to cast its rays as shown in Figure 1 transversely across-the alley or floor II 'to a photo-electric cell 24 located at the other side of such alley. The balls rolled along the alley intercept the light 4 rays from the lamps or source 23, causing actua-. tion of the photo-electric cell 24 to actuate the signals l'l, II, is, 20, II and 22.

- Suitably embedded or secured in the floor ill at the usual pin spot or in any other desired arphoto-electric cell devices A best shown in Figures 4 to 7. Such devices include" glass plates 25 whose upper sin-faces are flush with the upper-surface oithe floor ii. The under surfaces of plates 25 are recessed as at 26 so as to removably accommodate a housing 21 which may be of wood, bakelite or any other desired material or construction sufllciently substantial to withstand the requisite heat in operation. The material of 'suchhousin'g, however, is

opaque, and within the housing are disposed light-sensitive disks 28, the circuit wires for which are shown at 29 and 88 leading from pins 3| carthe lamp. A conductor 48 leads from a contact 4| to the contact 31 while a conductor 42 leads from a contact 43 to the socket 34 which is in metallic contact with the sleeve 38. The electric current for the lamp or lamps may be secured from any suitable source, for instance, the same source which supplies the electrcity for the remainder of the apparatus. The lamp 35 projects its rays vertically upward against the under surface of a pin 44 removably spotted thereon. The pin 44 only covers a portion of the. plate 25 and such portion adapted to be covered as designated 45 is highly polished and transparent while the portion outwardly thereof is preferably translucent, being frosted or roughened to prevent slippage of the pins from vibration in the alley.

Said pins 44, as best shown in Figures 13 and 14, are substantially cylindrical, preferably being tapered slightly at opposite ends as at 41. The ends of the pins, however, are rendered highly reflecting in any suitable manner, usually by countersinking reflectors 48 into recesses in op- .posite ends 01" the pins, the reflectors being removably secured in place by means oi. screws or other fastenings s. In lieu. of the reflectors, the

reflecting end surfaces of. the pins may be attained by applying paint thereto or any other desired way.

All the lamps 35 are adapted to be continuously lighted and the rays ascending vertically as at a in Figure 7 strike the reflecting surfaces 48 and are reflected onto the light-sensitive members 28, energizing the photo-electric cells A and the corresponding signals on the panel II. In the event a pin I2 is bowled over there is of course a lack of reflection onto the light-sensitive members 28 and corresponding 8 181 at the panel l5 will be .'extinguished.

- The modified form of pin shown in Figures 15 @tendingintoawelluoiinsulatingmaterial. A

lamps 58 are notlighted.

pmisuprightthelowerlampliislightedwhile oi'conductingliquid'suchasmercuryfifwhm thepinisonitsslde,themercuryil mcthecontactsflandfland theupperlampisnotlightedsincethemelurry doesnotmgagethecontacts and" themed. 'Ihepartsdescribedoonstitutelightimunttsremovablydispcaedwithmtheplnsiiflhedrunt being made from the mercury 58 through contact 51, the filament of the lamp, the screw shell 59 01' the lamp, socket 55, casing 5|, steel wool 88, casing 01' the battery 52, and contact 53.. It

will be noted that the steel wool or the like 68 '5 also serves as a shock absorbing material. The said units are removably held in place by means of fingers or clamps 8| which are displaceable into the spaces 82 when it is desired to insert or' remove the units 1 10 Since the pin 58 will give a direct ray 01' light, it is especially useful as a substitute for the pin 44 in the event the lumps 35 in photo-electric cell devices A should fail to light or operate although such pin 58 may be used regularly if desired. 15 The operation of the parts will now be traced more specifically with reference to the electrical diagram of Figure. 12. The electric current is supplied irom any suitable source, for instance, a battery as at 18 under control of a switch 1|. 2 The switch 1| comprises contacts 12 and 13, the latter being carried by a seat 14 hinged at 15 and normally urged by an expansion spring 16 away from a support 11 which carries the contact 12.

The relation of the seat is shown in Figure l and 25 the pin boy is adapted to sit thereon after the pins are spotted, his weight lowering the seat and engaging the contacts 12 and 13, such contacts being disengaged, however, automaticallyupon the pin boy leaving the seat 14. Adjacent to the 0 seat, for instance, connected thereto is another switch 18 located in the same circuit as switch 1| adapted to remain normally open. Such switch is in parallel with the switch 1| and if the pin boy desires to; leave the seat while maintaining 5 the circuit in operative relation, he manually closes the switch 18. Said switch 18 is both manually closed and manually opened.

The closing of the switch 1| places an electromagnet or relay 18 one for each device A in readi- 40 ness for operation, associated relays or electromagnets 88, however, being operated exclusively by light ray intensityas described, it being clear that the light rays reflected-back by the pins 44 into the photo-electric cells A in turn generate 45 electrical energy of s'ufllcient quantity to actuate said sensitive relays 88, respectively. At the in- Y stant any or all of the pins are removed from the alley or toppled over, the photo-electric cell devices A cease to generate sufllcient energy to hold to, the pins 8|. The relays 18 are so connected 5.;

that current is allowed to flow in their cell systems which in turn pulls up or attracts their armatures and closes their contacts 83, the same being normally open.

The operation of the system-with the excep- 0 tion of the photo-electric cells used, is notrestrictedto a definite power supply.

Another current operative-relay is shown at 88 a in the circuit which is so wired that should a single pin remain standing in the alley, as well 35 as any number or them, the current through such can 88 is sumcient to holdits armature in the open position, preventing closing of contacts 81.

Shouldnopinorpinsremainstandingintheah ley,thecurrentinrelay88ceasestoflowandits70 armaturedromcausingthecontacts 81toclose. Whenone armorepinsremainstanding in'tbe alleyafterthreeballshavebeenrolled,the standing pins are indicated by their respective lamps 18 being togethenwlth I1, 75

I8 and I 9. As long as any pin or pins remains standing in the alley, lamps II, 2| and 2 2, cannot be lighted. This is because relay '0 cannot function to complete the lamp circuits.

With switch H closed and all relays in readiness for operation, and lamp directing its light rays upon photo-electric cell :24, any interruption 01 such light rays causes a sensitive relay 88 to open its contacts which in turn deenergizes relay 89' closing its contacts which causes current to flow from the battery ll through the contact the relay :9 to a contact It, The circuit includes a relay 9| and its armature 92 carries a contact 93 which rests on contact 90 in the ready position. Said contact 93 being connected to the magnetic coil 9| pe ts current to flow therethrough and back the battery through switch I I. Said armature S2 is drawn up by-the magnet 9|, also carrying a contact 94. The contacts 93 and 94 beingfadapted to engage contacts 95 and 96, respectively, when the armature is'attracted against the tension of a spring 91. The contacts 90, 83, and 95 are so adjusted that when the armature travels upwardly, or is attracted, contact 83 is instantly engaged with contact 95 before the current in magnetic coil 8| falls to zero value and contact 85 now becomes the current supplying contact for the relay 9i with current entering from the battery I! directlyl I Relays I and O9 and photo-electric cell 21 assume their stand-by condition immediately following the passing of a ball through the light rays projected by lamp 23. The relay ll is now held in the up position by means or current passing from the battery through the contacts I 95 and 93, through the coil 9| back to the battery through the switch 1!. This causes current to flow from the battery to the contacts Q and 93 through lamp I1 and hence through the switch ll back to the battery. Contact 04 now makes connection with contact 38, with contacts 98 and 99 placing a relay Ill in fready" condition. This condition isthe result of the first ball having been rolled and indicator lamp ll indicating this effect by its illumination.

The second ball is now rolled making the sec-' ond interruption, of the light rays projected by lamp 23. Relays 88 and 89 function as stated before but now current flows from the battery throfigh the contacts of relay a to contacts '96 and 94 to contacts a and 99 of relay Ill through its coil and back to the battery through the switch ll. .The armature ill or coil I" travels.

up'u'nder the magnetic influence of such coil and engages a contact ill! in time to maintain its up position, closing contacts}! and Ill, contacts Hi3 and I, and contacts I and ill;

with contacts 99 to llli in closed position,- the 0 following circuits are engaged and energized.

5' armature m is in the "up position, contacts I03 and Ill are opened releasing the voltage. potential on lamp 2|, prohibiting lamp 2! from From contacts 93,,via contact Ill, and a con-- tact I01, a voltage potential is available at contact-IIIB of pin relay 8 through contacts Ill and ill! via the filamentoi lamp 2!. when relay becoming lighted.

Assuming the-arm'atures-l! and "I to'be in the "up"-position indicating that two balls have now passed throligh the light rays projected bylamp 23, a relay I III is now in a standby conditibn to receive energy from relay ll. As the third v ball is passed through the light rays projected by lamp II, photo-electric cell 24 and relays I8 thereby holding the armature in the up{ posirupted. In this M ami The armature of relay Ill, Ill, car- 5 ries said contact III and also carries contacts ill and II! and travels upward under the influence or the magnetic eiiect of magnet Ill permitting contacts Ill to engage a contact iii tion against the tension oi. spring I". current now flows from the battery to contacts 2 and II through lamp I. and back to the battery ythrough the switch. Under this condition contact H4 is released from a coactingeontact Ill removing the voltage potential from lamp 2|. Three ball indicating lamps II, II, and II are now passing current indicating that three bails have been passed through the light rays projected by lamp II. To return all control relays to their normal stand-by positions for the. next play, switch II is opened and when again closed, relay ii is ready to receive current from the battery through the relay II as soon as another ball is passed through the rays projected by lamp 23. 25.

Circuit changes during various plays will now be explained. when the player rolls one ball and clears the alley of all standing pins, the

eflect upon the electrical circuit begins with the interruption 101' light rays from lamp II. Relay SI loses its holding properties and drops its armature causing the contacts to open. The open* ing of relay .8 likewise interrupts the current" flowing, through relay 8! and its mag-- netic hold on its armature thus closing the contact thereof. With the contacts of relay 8! closed, current is permitted to flow from the battery through the contact oi the relay I. to contact II and contact wll through the magnetic coilii and back to the battery. 'At the same in- 40 stant contacts '3 and II are pulled up engaging contacts 9! and l}. Contacts a, II and II are so adjusted that any magnetic influence placed upon the armature ll permitting ittorise,causes' contacts and II to become broken but immediately contact 03 comes in contact with con tact 95 and the armature l! is held up against the contacts '5 and 86. Coil ll remains inthe holding position until the play r has completed 1 the play and it returns to the stand-by position when the swi II is openedby the pin boy. One hall having been thrown and the alley cleared oi standlne pins, current ceases to flow in the magnetic coil of relay: ".7 The armature otsaid pin relay '6 now drops closing the two contacts 55 thereof'and permitting current to now from the battery to contacts and II, hence to contacts III and I01, through lamp 2| and back to the battery by way of relay it and switch ll. Lamp i1 is also lighted by current flowing from the battery to contacts II and 1! through the lamp ll.

- when the'player' throws two balls beiore clear.- ing'the alley or standing pins, the following elecas trical condition exists:

Relays II, I. and ll and [I function in their" usual manner but lamp 2. cannot become because its supply contact 'ill has become intercome lighted receiving their current from the battery through contacts I! and II, contacts a and I02, contacts Ill arirllll contacts ill Ill, through lamp II. The contlcts'ot relay. are 0! course closed n, u and 2| bee mittin current to flow through lamp 2| by the contacts Ill and Ill back to the battery through the switch ll.

. In the case of a ten-pin play, that is, where it was necessary for the use of three balls to clear the alley ofall standing pins, relays l8, 89, 9|, I", I I0 and 86 function as stated before but now lamps l1, l8, l9 and 22 become lighted. Lamps 2. and 2i are disconnected from their supply contacts and rendered inoperative; Lamp 22 receives its supply from contacts H5 and H9 and the current is permitted to flow through the contacts of relay 86 back to the battery through the switch. I

The armatures 92, MI and 3 are composite in that they have metallic parts attracted by the respective electro-magnets and part of insulation mounting the various contacts, springs 91, I20 andfl i1, normally urging the armatures to lowered or open position.

It will be realized that the signals remotely controlled on the panel l5, may be readily televised so as to be received by individual television sets. l The various electrical connections are given by way of example and it will be clear that various changes may be made therein as well as in the apparatus generally within the spirit and I scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

I. In game apparatus, 'a support, an element spotted thereon, indicating means, photo-electric cell means energized by the presence oi. the gamepiece to operate the indicating means, a lightpenetrable plate disposed over said cell inthe support on which the element is spotted, said photo-electric cell means being inactive when the game piece is displaced, whereby it functions as a means for detecting any inaccuracy in the spotting of said element.

2. In combination with a bowling alley floor, game pins thereon, photo-electric cell means, means to direct light rays onto said cell means across the floor whereby the light rays are intercepted by a rolled ball, result-indicating means operable through the interception of said light rays through said photo-electric cell means including indicators, individual pin switch means for controlling the indicators for strike", for "spare, and for "ten-pins, mechanism operable by the pins and operatively connected to said indicators, and means operable by said photo-electric cell means to control the operation of said mechanism.

3. In game apparatus, a spot device for a pin or the like comprising a light-penetrable plate, a light-sensitive means carried by said plate, illuminating means carried by the plate to direct light rays upwardly therethrough, and indicating means controlled by said light-sensitive means, in combination with a pin or the like adapted to be spotted on the plate, and said pin having 7 means to reflect the light rays passing through the plate back through the sensitive means.

, 4. In game apparatus, a spot device for a pin or the like comprising a light-penetrable plate,

plate onto the light- -a light-sensitive means carried by said plate, illuminating means carried by the plate to direct light rays upwardly therethrough, indicating means controlled by said light-sensitive means, in combination with a pin or the like adapted to be spotted on the plate, and said pin having Qmeans to reflect the light rays passing through sensitive means, said plate having a recess in-its the plate back through the plate onto the lightductors in the circuit to the light-sensitive means. 5

5. In game apparatus, a photo-electric cell, means to project light rays onto the same, adapted to be intercepted by movement of a game piece, indicators corresponding to the positions of elements adapted to be spotted, a plurality of m relay means for said indicators controlled by said; photo-electric cell, a relay means maintained open while any or the first mentioned relay means are closed, and adapted to close uponthe opening of all of the first mentioned relay means, and 5 indicator means operable through the closing of the last specified relay means. a

6. In game apparatus, a pin or the like having electric illuminating means in an end thereof for the purpose specified, and circuit closing 2 means for said illuminating means movable by gravity to automatically assume an inoperative position when the pin is out of vertical position.'

7. In game apparatus, a pin or the like having electric illuminating means in an end there- 25 of for the purpose specified, and circuit closing means for said illuminating means, including a cell having,a liquid conductor therein, and con-. tacts extending into said cell and liquid when r the pin is vertical, said liquid being movable out 30 of circuit closing relation to said contacts when the pin is out of the verticali 8. In game apparatus, a pin or the like having electric illuminating means in an end theresorbing and conductor means between the battery and casing, a cell of insulating material within 4 the casing containing a liquid conductor, a contact on the lamp extending into the cell, a contact on the battery extending into the cell, and conductor means leading from the socket of the lamp to the casing, said liquid being movable 45 out 01' circuit closing relation to the contacts when the pin is out oi the vertical.

9. In game apparatus, a fioor, pins spottedon said fioor, photo-electric cell means, said photoelectric cell means having individual association with each pin through the fioor to indicate at a point remote therefrom, the spotting or displacement of the pins.

10. In game apparatus, a photo-electric cell, means to project light rays onto the same, adapted to be intercepted by movement of a ball, a ball counter operable by said photo-electric cell, indicators corresponding to the positions 0! spotted pins, a plurality of photo-electric cell members, a plurality of relay means for said indicators controlled by said first mentioned photo-electric cell,

a relay means maintained open while any or the first mentioned relay means are closed, and

11. In game apparatus, a photo-electric cell, 'means to project light rays onto the'same, adapted to .be intercepted by movement of a ball, a ball counter operable by said photo-electric cell, indicators corres'pondingjto the positions ofspotted Pins, a plurality of photo-electric cell members, a 26 trolled by said first mentioned photo-electric cell,

a relay means maintained open while any of the first mentioned relay means are closed, and adapted to close upon the opening of all of the first mentioned relay means, and indicator means operable through the closing of the last specified relay means including additional relay means to successively indicate the number of interceptions of the said light rays by the ball and also to indicate in game terminology the number of spotted elements displaced.

12. In game apparatus, a photo-electric cell, means to project light rays onto the same, adapted to be intercepted by movement of a ball, a ball counter operable by said photo-electric cell, indicators corresponding to the positions of spotted pins, a plurality of photo-electric cell members, a plurality of relay means for said indicators controlled by said first mentioned photoelectric cell, a relay means maintained open while any of the first mentioned relay means are closed, and adapted to close upon the opening of all of the first mentioned relay means, indicator means operable through the closing of the, last specified relay means including additional relay means to successively indicate the number of interceptions of the said light rays by the ball and also to indicate in game terminology the number of spottedelements displaced, and a control switch in the circuit normally urged to open position and closable under the weight of an operator. a

13. In combination with a bowling alley floor,

game pins thereon, photo-electric cell means, means to direct light rays onto said cell means across the floor whereby the light rays are in tercepted by a rolled ball, ball counter devices operable through the interception of said light rays through said photo-electriccell means, second photo-electric cell means, said second photo-electric cell means being controlled by said pins and including fallen pin counters, and means electri cally interconnecting the first and second men- 5 tioned photo-electric cell means so that operation of the'fallen pin counters influences operation of the ball counter devices.

14. In combination with a bowling alley floor,

"game pins thereon, photo-electric cell means,

means to direct light rays onto said cell means. across the floor whereby the light rays are intercepted by a rolled ball, ball counter devices to indicate the number of balls rolled and to indicate a strike operable through theinterceptlon of said light rays through said photo-electric cell means, second photo-electric cell means, said second photo-electric cell means being controlled by said pinsand including fallen pin counters, and means electrically interconnecting the first 2G and second mentioned photo-electric cell means so that operation of the fallen pin counters influences operation of the ball counter devices.

15. In combination with a bowling alley floor, game pins 'thereon,-photo-electric cell means, means to direct light rays onto said cell means across the floor whereby the light rays are intercepted by a rolled ball, ball counter'devices to indicate the number of balls rolled, a strike" and a spare operable through interception of said light rays through said photo-electric cell means, second photo-electric cell means, said second photo-electric cell means being controlled by said 7 pins and including fallen pin counters, and means electrically interconnecting the first and second mentioned photo-electric cell means so that operation of the fallen pin counters influences operation of the ball counter devices.

GULIAN D. BARKER. 

